Lady Sibyl is indeed awesome, but I have a huge soft spot for Lady Mary, because Michelle Dockery is such a fantastic actress. I had been screaming for her to get together with Matthew since the beginning, because they make such a sweet couple.

And the Dowager Countess of Grantham is simply badass. Dame Maggie Smith just steals every scene she's in (the verbal fight between Professor McGonagall and Harriet Jones is still the best thing on the show ).

From downstairs, my favourite character is Mr. Carson. So proper and respectable and strict, but with a big heart, too. The scene in which (hl just in case) he comforts Lady Mary and tells her (I'm paraphrasing here) that "even butlers have their favourites" was very touching and sweet.

QMAOFT. I almost worry that they'll give her too much screentime in this series simply because she's so awesome. She works in short bursts, does Violet.

Although the prospective romance between Lady Mary and Matthew is good to watch and a lovely slow burner, for me the most interesting dynamic of that sort is between Bates and Anna. Sometimes I want to SCREAM at Bates and really hope Anna makes inroads this series.

Mar sent me a copy of this show as a Christmas present (it was the Christmas gift one, right? I can't remember, you've sent me too much awesome British TV shows ). Like the other shows she's introduced me to, I have enjoyed it immensely.

OMG, how could I have forgotten Bates and Anna! Another reason why I need to re-watch the first series before the second series starts. Sometimes I love them even more than Mary/Matthew. So subtle and tender and sweet.

How can you take it? How can you have two episodes to watch and not want to devour them immediately?

Simple. It's like a fine brandy--meant to be sipped. I only watch the episodes ten minutes at a time, because each and every minute is so delightful and must be savored. So I stop myself (I started the penultimate episode after posting in this thread, and am--mirabile dictu--ten minutes in) from going too quickly, lest the season be finished and I have none left to look forward to.

edit: also, I had no access to Netflix while in England, so that slowed me down quite a bit. I apparently saw episode 5 on 6/30

I only watch the episodes ten minutes at a time, because each and every minute is so delightful and must be savored.

I may well be walking right into an lol @ Everton here... but nevertheless... seriously? The episodes are meant to be watched through. The drama maintained - one scene gracefully moving into the next. I'd rather watch an episode through and then immediately watch it again.

Simple. It's like a fine brandy--meant to be sipped. I only watch the episodes ten minutes at a time, because each and every minute is so delightful and must be savored. So I stop myself (I started the penultimate episode after posting in this thread, and am--mirabile dictu--ten minutes in) from going too quickly, lest the season be finished and I have none left to look forward to.